Vacation

I am getting so far behind that my self image in beginning to wane. I have the condo access project I started three week ago. I have the minutes to the May Board meeting I still have to compose an get out before the next board meeting and then Claire, my boss, thinks it would be a good idea to take the images taken at the Road to Freedom Tour, write a narrative and then place these on the
Access Utah Network website. Claire suggested I use Power Point but I don’t have Power Point here at home and I’ll be out of the office now for an entire week as I do the Family Reunion.

I have been putting these projects off and I am feeling like a real “scuzz” not getting the projects. So in the few days I have before I leave for Boise I will try to get a few of these items of my project board. First, the Freedom Tour: Claire suggested again I use Power Point but was Claire really saying use some kind of image software and then have the boys at IT load it onto the Access Utah Network website? If getting the project completed I can use some of the different software packages I have access to here at the house and get the project completed and out of my hair.

I have been dragging my feet with the Condo project I do not know why. I think It is because it is a “freebee”, something I got sucked into. If I had come straight home and done the write-up the project would have been simple enough but now I have let weeks go by I don’t know if can remember everything I need to do the project right. I have the images I needs and just write the narrative as I remember what I can remember and submit it to the condo association and see what they do. Really, it’s free what do they expect? I feel I am going to have to do a lot more work on the project then a narrative and a few images. My biggest motivator I just do not want to end up looking like a shmuck. In days gone by I would have just whipped the thing out.

I am offically on vacation. As I said earlier in this post I am off for a week plus the weekend, nine days. That’s a long time to be away from my desk and phones. Plus, yesterday I got talked into am meeting with the boss regarding one of the staff who seems to be making life difficult for the rest of the staff and some of the consumer we serve. The staff member is the newest on the staff and has a host of challenges she must deal with each day. In fact has been fairly civil to me. But hey, I’m adorable, what can I say? So I do not really have any complaints but I do hear how she interfaces with the rest of the staff and she can be difficult and I don’t think she needs to be as difficult as she is. The boss is going to pull together an intervention maybe bring someone in from State( someone who deals in this kind of office problems.). I predict the event is not going to be pretty and could make an awfully stress full Summer and beyond. But for now I have eight and half more days of hanging out and enjoying my days.

Red Diablo

One of the worst things about having limited hand function is the time I have to take to do anything. Like today I took off for my lunch hour and as I headed in toward town and I happened to see a new what looked like a fairly new Lamborghini Diablo pull out onto the street about a half a block a head of me! If I had good hands I could have maybe yanked my digital out and snapped an image of the vehicle. But, I was taken completely off guard. I mean, really, who drives their Lamborghini Diablo in downtown Salt Lake on a weekday? I did not get the image needless to say but yesterday as I was cruising round the INTERNET I was in England and ran across this great image of a red devil. This image reminded me of the Diablo and today I saw one which was red. I figured It was a sign.

I Want My NIKON !

I stopped by the Office Depot last night with receipt in hand an gunning for bear but once again they just sent me on my way saying I had to contact NIKON direct and they would wlk me through the process. Office Depot just indicated that problem I was having with my camera is between myself and NIKON! Fine. The last thing the manager did was to shove a copy of Your[Office Depot] Guide to Performance end Protection Plans Protect Your Investment. There is a 800 number on this document which I called and was immediately placed on hold where I remained for the next twenty minutes but eventually someone named Marta came on line. He had a heavy Spanish accent was a nice guy who inf0rmed me that my problem was with NIKON and he would switch me to the NIKON 800 number where I could take the issue up with these folks after which I was thrown into tat deep dark foreboding space between corporations. This led me to another 27 minute in this infinity of telephone space. I wonder if this is similar to jumping between universes in the quantum reality.

Eventually Robert acoustically appeared in my ear fresh from his NIKON universe. I explained my needs to Robert who nicely informed me that my issue was not NIKONs issue until I got my camera to Customer Service.When I had this problem with compUSA thy sent me a box to return the camera with. No so with Nikon. He politely gave me the addresses and instructions I would need and hung up returning to his NIKON universe.

So all afternoon, between meetings and phone calls searching for a box to send the camera away in. it was Marianne who came up with bubble wrap and an envelope to mail the digital in. This should work just fine after all the camera is already broken what else could happen to it? I guess the camera could get lost in the mail but I wonder if it’s worth insuring. It’s always something. I finally got the job done. A letter written describing the problem, copy of the receipt an the who shebang wrapped and ready to go. I’ll drop over to the post office on the way home and try to get the whole ugly event behind me. Robert informed me that to expect the turn round to be two to three weeks, so I am figuring five to six weeks if I ever see he camera again. Robert said they would actually bench the camera and attempt to fi the product and send it all back. Everyone one else just junked the camera and either sent me a new one or a gift certificate for a comparably priced camera.

I guess I had better start cleaning my area since I am going to be off for a week come this Friday. I do know why I think I need to police my space because I am leaving for a week since I doubt I would do anything if I were here. It just seems like the right thing to do

Old Friends

I had a presentation this morning at American Family Insurance(AFI) am and the office I presented at was way south and it made sense that I leave straight from my house rather then go all the way into to the office then have to backtrack to the South end. So I drove my van to AFI. AFI actually prepared a great breakfast and I came off pretty good. I was surprised. But my presentation to the AFI folk is not what today’s post is about. Today I writing Jose and Deloris.

Thirty four or thirty five years ago.

I have written about my pal Jose before :the Mad Mexican Christian. We worked together in a free medical clinic more then 30 years ago. I was pleasantly surprised when my cell phone rang this morning shortly after I returned from doing my South valley presentation was In price Utah and was headed

North and looked like he would be in town about lunch time and wanted to know if we could do lunch. Any time with Jose is good time so I said “sure”.

Jose has family in Texas Idaho and am learning that Jose makes the trip a coupe of times a year and his travels are bringing Christian right through Salt Lake and we are getting to know each other all over again.
We are essentially different people now then we were nearly forty years ago. Deloris too, I think I am getting to know really for the first time now.. Before Deloris was Jose’s wife, someone what was there when we swung by Jose’s house to pick him up for work. Deloris worked for Human services and was always just leaving or already gone by the time we got to their house. People shrink as they age. I had heard this but was not really aware as to how much they shrunk until I saw Jose a couple of Months ago. Jose must have lost at least two inches. Deloris I noticed today has also shrunk by a couple of inches.

I think it is always so interesting to get that third person’s perspective. Deloris rounds us out with her memories- her memories are softer, Deloris remembers a depth to out our shared history. Deloris remembers the human side of our history that side which can be repeated a history of which we can proud.

We ate at JBs, Deloris wanted meatloaf and Jose wanted to keep Deloris happy. I wanted somewhere which was close to my office in case I had to roll. But I was able to talk Jose into driving my van and JB’s is actually right round the corner from where I work. We ate for an hour remembering our past and making memories for even further down the line. I am sensing and sensing deeply there reason for us to be coming together now, at this time of our lives. I am sensing we have something yet to do; at least one more adventure together. The adventure may even include Mack, part of the original CMAT.

Monday Morning Jolts

One of my Monday morning rituals to check my bank accounts, you know just to be sure that everything is OK. This morning when I dialed into my main account I saw I was over drawn by almost 700.00!! I feel the bank lets you know you in big trouble to type this information in huge bold letters in the transaction section.

Last Friday I had my van serviced which cost much more then I had anticipated and I thought I had taken care of the account when I collected my vehicle.

I have two banks and like three accounts ( counting the VISA) account. And I have more then enough to cover the work, if I do the accounts right. And when I went to settle up with the Mechanic Man I was going to take 500.00 out of the credit line, 150 out of another account and the rest out of my debit card which would have to funds I needed. I do not know what happened but near as I can tell the Mechanic Man ran the payment through all on one card!!

Holy Bounced Check!! And of course this bounced check starts the cascade effect. Any check written after the big check will bounce as well. Luckily I only had a few items and they were still pending what ever the hell that means. I took an immediate early lunch and headed to the bank with the problem. It’s nearly noon when I get to the bank and the only people who can help me are the tellers at the Service Windows. Realize this bank is downtown Salt Lake and the noon traffic is just about to start—those folks who went to ‘run” into the back to cash a check for lunch, Make a fast deposit or just pick up a free sucker at the teller window. It took me a while to make the teller understand what I wanted or needed

To do but finally a light flashed behind the glasses and I was able to do a “cash advance” against my credit union account which should satisfy the bank account and stop the “cascade” Then I had to call my mechanic and tell him not to freak if my bank does anything usual with his request for payment for services rendered and then zip back to my office and get on line to my credit union and transfer some funds from my saving account to buck up my VISA. Whew! Busy morning.

I still cannot figure out what happened. I tried so hard to make sure everything came out right and I still messed it up.

I was going go over to Home Depot at lunch and start the process of getting my camera repaired or replaced but bank emergency pulled me from that course. If I have a lot of energy left following work I will drop into the Home Depot round the corner from my house and see if they will start the process.

Currently reading: Ringworld’s Children, Larry Niven

New Camera New Life

I found it! Last January I got a new NIKON camera. I cannot say that I purchased the camera because last year I purchased another Nikon and has the fore-site to purchase the replacement plan should anything go wrong and something did go wrong( the lens stopped working) and sure enough Home Depot replaced the camera and I soon had another. I purchased another replacement plan and then in a couple of months the same thing happened. I suspect my backpack is too rough of an environment to safely endure. I am going to have to figure out another way to transport the camera.

When the camera was first injured I immediately took the camera to the Home Depot where I purchased it and they just looked at me like I had three eyes. I had lost my receipt. But I had registered the purchase and I though that Home Depot would be able to find my information but no they were not going to budge till I came back with receipt in hand. I spoke with the twit sales person then the manager but no go. “No tickee no shirtee.” Now it different. I have everything I need. I 'll have to jump through more hoops but soon I'll have the replacement and I'll be on my way.. Plus installed a new ink cartridge in the my HP printer I thought was dead and it works again also like a champ.

Brooks stopped my for a final visit today. He takes off for his new life tomorrow. He is on his was way to Vancouver to open an office. We wish Brooks all the best of luck in his new life.

Short Post

I spent the whole day cleaning house mostly the computer room but it felt good getting in there and throwing away boxes and boxes of junk. No TV or anything just house cleaning. I was able to get the HP 1000 working. I think anyway. I still have to install the color ink and then we’ll see.

Actually I did manage to finish Lisey. Thanks Linda. Lisey was a great read but I think the next book I’ll start will be science fiction. It’s Sunday and we have nothing planned that I am aware but I am having some possible health issue I am may have to focus on for a while.

Friday's Remorse

Today is is one of those days I should have stayed at home. I have no business being at work. My work ethic is gone, in my brain I have already started my weekend. I know this thought process is inexcusable but I am just being honest. I stayed up too late last evening watching Grey’s Anatomy reruns. We had retuned home from having dinner with Brooks, Bridget, Gabriel and Auni to celebrate one of Brooks’ last night in Utah. Brooks is scheduled to leave on this coming Monday. Mark and Jasmine popped by to try to mow the back yard that did not happen though due to equipment malfunction. But I went out into the backyard to hang with them as they attempted to mow. The lawn mower lost a stabilizer arm though and we shut the operation down till the lawnmower can be repaired. The darkness had crept in by that time on the longest day of the year. Mark and jasmine left and I returned to watch the last of the Anatomy night. I finally tumbled I to bed about 10:55 P.M. way to late for a work night for me, even if it’s a non boss Friday.

The Council has a two day training which starts today being held in our conference room. People, strangers, wandering in and out of our office and phone calls coming in from those not of this city trying to find their way in or trying to find a family member or work mate which is supposed to be at the training and need us to find the person. The environment today is a little chaotic which adds to the whole feeling that today would have been a good day to stay at home.

Firecracker Friday temps may hit he triple digits and I feel like the weekend has already started. So I am here to do the basics, greet the visitors answer the phones and just get the work day by. I have a couple of hours I might use at lunch to go down town and wonder round. Maybe I’ll clean my work space a little and I need to start the Access Report of the condominium I did last week.

My buddy Mack called earlier this week and asked that I might checkout the ramp he has recently had one of his consumer, contacts build. The fact that one of his consumers built the ramp is not as important to me as is the fact that Mack had access built in to his home. Now Mack is pretty eclectic and a pretty good thinker but he is the second person I have known who has gone out of their way to make their homes accessible to people who use wheelchairs more specifically, me.

This almost “weirds” me out that fact that someone would go out of their way to make their home accessible when they don’t have to but they have built accessibility into their home because they wanted someone like “me” in their home…that’s cool

Safety Inspections and White Shirts

I hate cars/vans what ever. Cars and \vans are just money pits it is as simple as that. My safety inspects comes due the end of every June. I have been pretty lucky the past couple of years in that the inspection cost me just cost of the inspection, the vehicle past. I of course, am speaking of my full sized van. But this year that nearly free ride has come to end.

My cousin runs a little four man shop in Murray not far from my house. My cousin is a good guy and I have done automotive business with Scott for the last ten years. I like him, he does good work he doe not gouge me and his shop is on the way home for work. I feel comfortable with him. I got to Scott because it just makes sense.

I had my van dropped off early this week to get the Safety Inspection done and out of the way before the end of the month and also to be sure the vehicle was road worthy for the upcoming trip to Boise the first week in July. So I knew as early as yesterday afternoon there was a problem,: the front end ball joint connectors or something of other and the job would cost me at least $800.00!! Whoa!! That is a lot of tacos for someone who barely even runs the vehicle. That is a lot of empanadas for someone who dutifully used public transit five to seven days a week and usually two times a day. I have had the week to deal with the financial assault but when I called a few minutes ago Scott slipped me a sucker punch the brake linings were cracked , “So, I went ahead and fixed them too.” I did not even know the brake lining could crack. So I am positive that cracked brake lines will add at least $100.00 to the total. I will surprised if I get out of my cousin’s shop for under $1000.00!!

All week long since I got the first bad news I have been doing mental calculations in between phone calls, looking and rechecking my online banking to make sure I have enough resources to handle “buying” my van back after work. I figure I can put half of the bill on good old VISA and rape my saving account for the rest. I justified the whole thing as “it had to be done” didn’t it? What if I let the inspection expire along with the plates and live life with out an accessible wheelchair van? Public transit and when I Dianne and I went somewhere I would have to go in my manual wheelchair until such time we had the resources that we could run two vehicles responsibly. Boy, that would really take some big kahunas.

Well, that ain’t going to happen right now.

Brooks is leaving next week for Washington and tonight is a going away dinner for the lad. We’re going out to Red Lobster as a send off. Like an idiot I wore a white shirt this morning. I have to keep this shirt presentable till dinner time tonight at least. So far so good.

One More Time

I just lost three quarters of a page of text and cannot get it back, I had not saved the document yet and what is worse, I was just taking a call and when I was asked to save my material I hit “no” instead of yes, by mistake and I lost the file. I cannot use any “recovery” type tools because there was no aberrant machine behavior which would have cause a “back file” to have been developed. I, in a mid afternoon , just hit ‘No” when presented the option and “zip”, “phifft’ bye, bye my text went. I wasted an hour thinking I might be able to get the lost words back and then finally realized if I had just started over I would be done by today’s post by now.

I was about 150 words into a rant concerning a consumer I have been plagued with for the past twenty years, who keeps showing up like a bad penny, who I had actually named and described to the point that anyone who know the social services networks in this area and consumers would know exactly who I was talking about and making the whole posting illegal as hell and making me totally libel. So, I am sure my overly active sub conscious
was just watching out for me.

I cannot believe I have not been totally sued over the years I have been in public service. I tend to start writing things which may be actual and factual but suicidal to me politically speaking. In my last job at the I.L. I had Kim, my buddy and colleague who tended to keep an eye on me and my writing. I sort of have an idea that Kim was assigned my our executive director to keep the eye on me. I resented this obvious dominion at first but Kim did such a good job and saved my butt so many times—I now years later cannot thank the lad enough.

I don’t have Kim in my life in the capacity any longer, I have no one in the capacity. I am out there on my own dancing through the “mine field”. I am too stupid to be frightened most of the time. It’s just when I am saved by one of my mistakes and I have time to ponder what I almost did do I realize how dangerous to my self.

So rather then name the consumer directly, or describe the consumer so accurately that someone reading the post could pick the consumer on the street I write in generalities typing my frustration in the safe but weak descriptions of generalized anonymity. The safe route is often the quiet and boring route which makes for a long dry blog.

The heat is back this mid-summer’s eve; Summer begins tomorrow and the day is going to be hot. I have to put together some budget document for my funders. I have not actually done the funding before so developing funding requests is new territory for me. I am somewhat embarrassed I have not done this before and just learning to do this now, after being here for almost eight years. It is time.

Father's Day

We were going to have the Father’s Day bash at our house so I could really “road test” my new smoker. We just could not pull off the event. The house is still in such disarray that we felt we could not host the family. Instead we called on Bridget and Gabe (B&G’s)to use their place for the cook out. Bridgit and Gabe, of course, had no problems but backed the eating time back a couple oh hours which was fine with me—since Mark would not be available until after 2:00.

Since we were going to have he dinner initially at out place we had a “ton” of protein thawed and ready to cook. So we brought most of the meat which was offered up as sacrifice. Chicken parts, sausage link, hot dogs, beef ribs flat iron steak and more. My theory is to always prepare for a third world country and you will always have leftovers for the week to come. We also elected to stop at the market on the way over to B&Gs snagging, chips and buns and other last minute items we deemed might be needed.

I elected to take my power chair knowing I would be effectively locked out of the house dues to steps entering the house which is fine I figured I could stay out side since the late Spring has been warm and dry this year. B&G have a small backyard made even smaller do to G’s experiments at building terraces and xeriscapeing but very nice and inviting and this yard is where he has his huge gass grill set up. I did that horribly father in law thing and supervise Gabe as he cooked and grilled.There was so much meat that Gabe ended up make three complete grills full.

When I had visited with Mark earlier in the week via texting I sort figured he was on his own because his little family had headed out camping but Mark had to work so I figured it would only be him coming but surprise, surprise Christy and Jasmine also came and that was great. Soon everyone had plate piled high everything meat imaginable.

With everyone fed, some one brought the badminton and the group untangled the net and set it up and the games began. The teams were team in laws _Gabe and Mark A against team Brown( Brooks and Bridget). Anakah and Jasmine even got into the game off and on but when the game was for grown up the laws against Browns. Aggressive badminton was played for what seemed a couple of hours before I started making “home noises” which was the signal for others to split as well. We played our games on the front yard, screaming, yelling and visiting among the grown ups, Mainly Christy and Dianne and I took images document the event. From the time that Dianne and I had arrived until we left was almost eight complete hours. We made summer family noise I have not heard for years. People coming together for a summer after noon to enjoy the days and themselves and each other. I hold my breadth in fear of not being able to replicate the event. Everyone, EVERYONE, gave the illusion have having a great old fashion good time. The day seemed so full of summer promise possibly due to the fact the Brooks is leaving for Vancouver in two weeks and we don’t know when we’ll be together again.

Long week

This was a busy week. I had a couple meetings out of the office necessitating I drive my van into work a couple of times, which I am finding is becoming quite a stress; more and more I dislike driving. My boss finally got back from Washington on Thursday and we drove up to an 30 year celebration for one of our sister agency, a disability think tank: Center for People with Disabilities(CPD). The CPD is the program which started the office I run. The event was held in Logan, Utah about 80 miles from Salt Lake. My boss rented an accessible van for the event so I did not have to drive my van. It was a long day and I still was not finished when we got back even though it was five o clock. The Russians were having a dinner party and I had quasi promised I would attend. The dinner was at seven and by the time I got home from the train it was time to leave for the dinner. Dianne was ready to go and I loaded up in the van and off we went. Two more hours of smiling, talking and eating. But this not what I have chosen to write about for this posting. I wanted to outline how tired I was by week's end.

Earlier in the week I had been contacted by a women who had cornered me early this past winter and had me come out to her condominium and do an accessibility survey to assist her in removing some speed bumps and to press the need for curb cuts around the condominium. When I first met with her and the condominium association, the weather was frigid, snow covered the ground and I could do little more then encourage the members to look at the need to have their property accessible to all the members of the community. I agreed that I would return in the Spring when the property was visible and and an accessibility survey would make much more sense. In the ensuing months the women who called initially, fell ill and I forgot about the promise made until earlier this week. When Annie called and wanted to know when I could come and finish the project. I have to have things like the project hanging over my head and I wanted to get the survey done and out of the way. I told Annie I would do the survey this morning at nine a.m.

I met with Annie and the Condominium Owners association and we did roll though. Curb cuts need to be made or ramps installed and I sensed hostilities at the beginning of the survey. Clearly the Association had no intentions of spending any money—in fact there was a rumor spreading round the community that they were going to throw Annie out due to her commitment to access. We discussed this issue and others. I gave some suggestions and we all began to communicate. I am always amazed at how just a little communication can produce great things. Now, I have to write up my findings and do a little research in trying to find some funding which might help in removing some of these barriers. So more work for me. It just never stops.

Hey Diddle Diddle a Bum and His Fiddle

Wednesday is the day Is usually the day write my mom and mail the letter. I drop the letter in the box round the corner of my downtown office. From there I travel East a couple of locks and end catching the train from then Second South Station. I like the change of pace and venue this alternate route gives me. I was making my way to the train Station, I had just finished dropping my letter off and had just crossed 200 West when I noticed what looked like a homeless guy coming down the street in my direction. He was tattered and messed up with wild dark brown hair and beard having a very Rasputin look even down to the “1000 yard stare”.

The street man bearing down in my direction was lugging what looked like good sized case of a sort. I almost had my self convinced that what this lost was lugging a cello or base violin an then I shook my head thinking “naw. That would be totally weird.” I almost fell out of my power chair as the guy got close enough to reveal that in fact what he was dragging behind him was a cello? The instrument case was as disheveled as the person dragging it. As the lost musician passed, I could actually see the wood of the instrument inside of the case. I could not determine what condition the instrument was in but there was an instrument in the case an that was enough to blow mind.

I was twenty feet or so passed the guy when I had the idea that I should have taken this image for my blog. This would have been great. I wanted to stop in my tracks, do a 180 in my chair and ask this guy if I could take his image. I could offer the guy a dollar for his image. Could this vagabond even in gage in meaningful dialogue? If so, would he be offended that I obviously thought him weird or colorful enough to want his image enough to give him a measly dollar for it ? How would I even broach the subject, “ Hi I noticed you dragging this fine fiddle behind you and wonder if I might snap your image, I’ll even give you a dollar so you can make a down payment on a bottle of rotgut down at the liquor store.?” I did not though-I was chicken. I need to get past this hesitancy or shyness or just plain fear. I have lost some great shots.

What was this bum doing on 90 degree afternoon, dragging a musical instrument like a cello in a beat up cello case down second South ? What story does he have to tell, homeless, on the street with nothing but the grimy clothes on his back and one huge cello, which seems to be of enough value at the pawn shop that he could buy smokes and booze for a great summer’s evening? Too weird.

Today is the Summer picnic I’ll try get some images.

Lost

Don’t Give me anything and the expect me to have the item for you later. I wish I was more responsible but I just have a heck of a time trying to remember where I put things. I was asked about two items today of items which may or may not have passed through my passion the last couple of weeks. The following is the story is about one of those items : Dum Da da dum da.

A couple of weeks the person who works with me in the office got a little media attention and pulled off her interview with the Six o clock News and then carried the cassette round the office like gold bullion for days and asking how she could, isolate the interview an send it to her father for Father’s Day. I think I suggested that we could transfer the interview to a DVD or at least a CD Rom. I remember quasi promised to work on the project but have got round the project I never received the media. At least I do not remember ever seeing the blue cassette ( which then 5 second bit was recorded on). I mean I very well could have taken the cassette but I honestly have not recollection of having received the document. If I had dumped the tape in my backpack I know I would have remembered pulling the tape out and I do not. I have torn my office apart looking for the tape. I even had Marianne, the executive secretary, unlock the Bosses office—who is in Washington DC. I did not see the tape either. I spent a good part of the afternoon looking through our recently catalogued film library, in my old office in the back of the building even behind the computers and nothing. I ended up grousing about the missing document with Marianne and she said something like, “ seems I remember that she asked for the film and she was going to take tape home to show her sister. I don’t remember her bringing the tape back.

The more I think about the secretaries statement the more I have a memory which seems to fit the statement—but maybe this is what I want to remember because this would exonerate me and take the heat off. A five second film bite, really it’s nothing and chances are she will get chances to make other ‘five second sound bite’. That’s me thinking, I really don’t care. I have done all that stuff before. Where my office mate has not. She feels this is her moment in the sun her “five minutes”. She is developmentally disabled and tends to seize onto idea and not let the idea go. Hopefully, my partner will go home and search her apartment and find the lost tape and hopefully put this search to rest. I’ll look through my computer room one more time but I am sure the tape is not there. We will work this out one way or the other and life will go on. I just get so tired of having these issues always land in my lap. Maybe tomorrow will be a calmer day.

Hats

A number of years, well over ten years, the local transit authority flew me to

Portland for a couple of days to try out the Portland light rail system in hopes of winning me over to light rail as a form of public transit for the Salt Lake area. I was apathetic at best regarding light rail for the SL valley. I really did not care what the Authority did as long as they built what ever the Authority was going to build with wheelchair access.

I have to give the Transit Authority credit because not only did the trip and the trips on light rail win me over to the concept but made me an ardent support of the cause. I came back ‘hot’ for the service and I would do what ever I needed to bring about the as soon as possible. I loved Portland too. I don’t know if I would categorize my feeling as “in love” with the place but on my return to Salt Lake I told many who asked and many who did not ask that if I had to relocate to anywhere, beside Boise, Portland Oregon would be that place.

I had quite a bit of time on my hands and was often when this is the case and I am in a strange city I get out and explore. I was in Portland before I was using an electric wheelchair full time so I was pushing my old Boing (colors manual wheelchair) and in my travels I happened to pass a huge building, like a huge cube. It was the NIKE cube,a a huge cube of building I assume is one of its sewing centers. I was even more excited to see they had a seconds store a retail outlet where the sold product with small defects which not not be shipped to their regular outlets. I fell in love with what I call their “backward” hats. A cap which looks like a jockey hat worn backward with the kangaroo right in the center. I did not by a hat that day but wished I had ever since. A few months ago when Shelly informed me she was going on weekend trip to Portland I asked that she try to find the cube and if she did find the “cube” and if they had any caps s for sale that she pick one up for me. Shelly came though finding the outlet and she picked a hat for me and sent it for Fathers day. I started wearing the cap to work this morning. I think is much finer to wear then the baseball cap I have been wearing. A true bit of style. The label on the back is the same little kangaroo but is now called Kangol.

I even went to their website this morning at work and was 'wowed' by all the other hats they offer. I am temped to buy when one of these first days I wonder why I had not thought of going to the website before.

One of the nice things about being bald is I have a legitimate reason to wear caps and as long as I have to be bald I am going to be wearing some styling hats.

Work with me Little Printer!

Again, I get so frustrates at my inability to communicate with and repair my electronic equipment. Today the focus of my stress is my HP Deskjet 5440 printer. I purchased the machine last spring not long after New Years when the main printer stopped( another HP—when will I learn?) working. Dianne was in the midst of some major printing projects and we needed a printer which would at least print text. So, I bundled up and trekked to my local COMPUSA and got the little 5540 just under a hundred bucks. I was pleased and surprised at how well the printer worked. The text prints was perfect, crisp and clear. When I picked up the printer the salesman asked if I wanted to purchase more ink. I instantly said “NO” thinking the kid was just trying to 'upsell' me. I figured with the ink which came with the machine I shoul be fine for a couple of weeks, at least and then I could get an ink cartridge. If I needed. The kid tried to tell me that the printer manufactures were now including “sampler cartridges” just enough ink to allow the consumer to get the product and see that their new investment was working properly. The the little twerp was right.

Actually, I cannot remember all of what was happening in the house, I think Dianne got her first or something which suddenly allowed her to loose interest in printing at the rate she had been. So the pressure was off the computer. I even had purchased the extra cartridges, I believe the next week. But did not install the cartridges, put them away and lost them. They are here somewhere but I have not found them yet. In the meantime I picked up a 3-1 printer( another HP—I know, I know) which I have not installed even yet. I did purchase the ink back-ups with the 3-1 and I am sure I'll be happy when I finally get that system up and running.

We needed some printer to be working so I resumed my focus on the 5440.

Dianne actually picked up a couple of cartridges and installed them into the printer but as to this date I have not got the color cartridge to work. I am getting this branding issue which makes each image I print come out with stripes making uniform bands across the image. When a image is printed vertically the bands make any people in the image appear as turn of the century convicts.

I actually like this little printer-the machine sucks at images but prints text all day like its going out of style. I guess I'll continue to work on the printer and home that I can do something which will the printer reach it's full potential. Maybe the fix is something as simple as replacing the ink cartridge or maybe Dianne forgot to remove the tape over the printer heads. I know I have done that in the past. I'll keep working on the machine and hoping that I will get it to work. I am just like that. Sigh

Garden

I was up early today for a Saturday, dressed and out the door by 9:30. I drove my van to the nursery behind my neighborhood looking for starts I could plant in the garden. Last year I waited too late in the season and missed out. This year I vowed I would get my starts and I was fortunate to find four looked over banana squash plants, a little hammered but I think the plants will pull through. I was able to secure some acorn and goose neck squashes as well. A green pepper, ichabon egg plant and two good sized tomato plants rounded out my haul. I stopped at Lowes and picked up a couple of bags of concrete as will. The concrete is for the holes the late Ginger dug at the gate to the back yard. I cannot access the back yard until we get these holes filled what a pain. In fact the concrete I first bought was slow curing and I needed the quick (three hour) curing kind. I am in a hurry to get back to my back yard.

Dianne was just getting up when I got back and she was most excited that I had been to the nursery and picked up the plants which are to be our garden this year. In years past I have actually purchased seeds early in the year and actually sprout these little buggers. In another place in time, when I had more time and space, I quite enjoyed this part of the project. Now, however, life is just too fast and space to precious to dedicate the area I would need to develop my own nursery. Dianne planted the garden this afternoon and now we must water and wait. I spent the afternoon reading my new Stephen king, Lisey's Story( thank you Linda). It's a great read, my first read of the summer. In fact it calling now. Have a great night!

Just a Little Bit of Stress

Our fiscal year ends the end of this month and all requests for funding must, MUST be submitted by the month's end. In the past all the grant requests have been submitted by our fiscal agent and I really did not have a heck of a lot to do with the process. Will, our fiscal analyst split last year just as we got a new executive director. And she feels I need to be in more control of my program and a key part of that is writing the grant request letters. No big deal...unless one have never had to do this before. Remember, the boss just got back from vacation where she was gone for almost two weeks and she wanted to see some good work done on this project when she returned. The boss also said I was to get together with new analyst and the analyst would help me write the letter. Now the new analyst is only there part time as it is but I fully expected her to be in a couple of the days the Executive Director was gone but she was not and she conveniently showed back up ,at the office today and acts like she did not know I needed her input/help, doing the grant requests. I guess one of the reasons I did not freak out was I was absorbed totally by the Road to Freedom Tour. And get this she and the boss are leaving for Washington DC Monday morning till Thursday!! So tomorrow I am going to trap her and make her assist me write the letters. Really who needs this kind of stress?

Salt Lake Bound

I get this call several times a year: A person with a disability is seriously contemplating relocating to Salt Lake and of course since we have the toll free phone number I get the initial call. Usually the call is coming from someone of the dominant religious culture and it usually someone newly brought into the “fold” and the new “foldee” is looking to join the “Mother Fold( MF)”. Many times the caller is a person with a disability low income and in need of many supports and feels that the MF will meet those needs.

I of course see it is my responsibility to discourage the caller from moving to Utah if the caller feels they are going to be taken care of—it is just not going to happen in this town or state. The state inherently hates populations which are low-income or minorities. I wish that were not the case but I have been providing services to this group during the time I have been here and animosity to these groups I what I have seen. In fact, I feel, it is my responsibility to inform the caller of these issues, which I did to my morning caller—and low and behold he still wants to come—the sooner the better.

This guy informed me that he was African American and had moved to some Midwest state which starts with a” D” to get out of Chicago. I am not sure why he wants to now relocate further West but one I did recognize is this guy is a survivor and he will do well, really, where ever he winds up. So now he is fully aware of the lack of diversity of the area and he is fine with the lack of diversity. In fact he did not come right out and state it but I think I heard it between the words he did speak. He feels he will get along better in a less diverse culture then say Chicago where he feels, he was always in eminent danger.

This guy is a “talker” all right, a classic system worker someone with definite skills at manipulating systems and programs to his well. I ended up giving him addresses and phone numbers one independent living center and three different housing authorities. Not that he conned be but he conned me and I am glad that he did. Not that this community needs any more people who are low income and disabled but sometimes I feel this community needs another opportunity to exercise its skills at basic humanity.

The front barreled though the county about 2:00 am: lots of wind, thunder and chilly temps. I did not get a whole lot of sleep but enough to get by but the front had lingered today bringing lots of rain, off and on, all day long. I had a meeting across town so I did bring my van into work. The clouds and rain are forecast for the remainder of the day. It maybe a good night to just shut the door and curl up with my current Stephen King.

Like Thieves in the Night

There be a storm blowing in the sky has turned to a leaden gray and the temperature is beginning to drop. I was out at lunch to do some banking and window shopping and the outside temperature was in the 90 degree area…now, it 85 degrees and dropping and the drop is to continue tonight until it bottoms out at 50 degrees or so. So tomorrow I’ll be wearing a jacket again but just a fort a short period until the low pressure plows though. I have to remind myself every year this happens. We get a couple week or more of really great hot days. Then right round the first of June or when ever school lets out for the summer, you know kids in cut offs and bare feel. Wham! A cold front barrels through and every one gets sick. I just hope to get before the thundershowers forecast for tonight decide to let loose.

I got the call from then efficient little sister, last night wanting to know what I had done regarding the upcoming family reunion; Item 2 in my triple crown of summer stressors this year. She called me on my cell an as usual I did not get a chance to grab the call before the call was sent to voice mail. When I played the message back I shuddered with fear knowing I had done little except call my competent little brother who I knew, at least, had the picnic pavilion rented and I knew we superficially talked about having the families responsible for their crews i.e. everyone one is too bring a dish, beverage and desert which would be added to a common table of abundance to be shared by the whole family. We still figured we could all go together for a meat product—last year we did fried chicken from a supermarket deli and actually, the chicken was great and tasty costing much less then fowl from the Colonel. We have decided on this route over the past couple of years since would basically free up my younger brother Paul, which had traditionally been the cook, to better join in with the visiting with the others at the reunion. I guess there have been some issues of who is paying how much for what when we have added the whole mess together and divide the total by the number of families. I sure hope we can dodge the bullet this year.

I was reluctant to make the call but Dianne encouraged and I dialed and Leah answered. I was pleased the call seemed productive. So we are on line, the park space is rented, and there IS a fire pit should be get the itch to cook, Paul will be in charge of the volley ball net and other items of physical play—for the younger family members. The old guys will sit round eat fried chicken or water melon spitting the seeds between conversations and hopefully when all are done and the day is gone we will able to just dump every thing in the nearest dumpster and be gone. Like thieves in the night.

Monday After

Coming back to work from Friday was a bit of come down. I realized now, I have to do follow up: thank you letters, making sure images get out to those who care and dig in and just work. Droll methodical work especial Monday ,morning work when I am still trying to clear the cob webs out of my head.

Yesterday, was my son Mark A’s 31 birthday. Believable. I had text messaged Mark a couple of times trying to figure out what we could do but was not able to make contact. I should have called but I didn’t. I am becoming a real believer and user in text messaging. So I felt if Mark got my text message he would eventually call-which he did.

In the mean time, Dianne has known for the longest time I have been interested in getting a “real” bbq pit. A smoker, the kind used by real folks serious in real barbeque! Dianne picked up a smoker at the Smiths super store-the kind of smoker that looks liken a black barrel cut in half on some sort of base. Of coursed the smoker was in a million pieces-“some assembly required”. Now, I pride myself ,for knowing my limits and I firmly believe and staying in side those limits. Putting together multi-parted products is beyond my limits. I have learned this sad from trying to put together model cars, airplanes shelves or computer desks. The companies ship these dissembled project with screws missing, no holes being where holes should be etc. In fact I actually passed on this item a couple of times this year just because I or someone I loved will have to put the item together.

Dianne, however, does not have this aversion to failure and one, purchased the smoker, she decided to put the sucker together and the project was started about 2:00 -O-clock. Luckily we also started CHILDREN OF DUNE in the DVD and oddly enough both finished at about the same time. In the process of assembling the smoker we only lost two or three bolts and a couple of nuts. We ended up drilling two holes where holes supposed to be and ended up with a working piece of equipment.

Mark called as we were nearing completion on this project. I was glad to speak with him and wished Mark a happy birthday. He asked if he could come over and I answered in the affirmative, of course. We had just lit the coals when Mark, Christy arrived with Jasmine. I could tell this gathering , hat ever it was was going to be the closest thing Mark would get to a recognition of his birth this day. So, I out burnt offerings of ribs, hot dogs and kabassa ring and Dianne actually crafted great dinner of melons, grapes and pineapple to go with the meats and baked one two layer cake. We even produced a signed card and check for birthday greetings giving the illusion had been planned. Mark seemed appreciative and Dianne and myself felt good about out spontaneity. One more birthday in this set and we are done till the winter holidays pretty much. I better start saving.

Happy June

It’s finally over and the press conference turned out much better then I though. Of course its all an illusion—We had the conference is a very small room and the only media which showed up during the actual conference was Telmundo , the local Hispanic channel who happened to be passing through on their way up to the Mexican Consulate. The reporter and especially the camera guy saw we had sandwiches and iced beverages and decided to cover the press conference. Later on one of the local news folk stopped by and did some interviews.

I really wanted to get this post up yesterday but I just did not have the time or endurance. I ended doing videos with Dianne till nearly midnight. Perhaps viewing these films was the most import thing I could do. I did get some images of then Road To Freedom bus and of the event. I really wanted to have gotten more images but I ended up given the camera to one of my friends who showed up to the event who only took a couple of images of the Attorney General and my self or rather the speakers of the program.

I guess as I look back on the event in the clear,`cold, bright sunshine of Saturday morning the event was not that successful an event; Hardly any local media showed up. The reason the my boss, Claire, got me involved in this whole project in the first place was to increase the visibility of our office in the Utah community. I doubt if yesterday's event accomplished this. We had a 'get together though' a place where people with disabilities , who have been people of change oh the local scene and the national (in some cases) and this association was great. The meeting of Jim Ward the, Road to Freedom, guy remarkable. In the microcosm of yesterday's events he was the “microcostic super star”. Tom Olin was his roadie, driver and documentor. Jim's smile is infectious giving the receiver the feeling of an unrealistic confidence to achieve what needs to be done. I can tell that Jim is equally at home on the local and National stage . Jim is a “Professor Harold Hill” figure for people with disabilities: coming into their small town with his big old bus, shrink wrapped bus and he starts selling a dream of what these folks might be. A vision of their best selves, doing their part on the home front to keep the dream of a National document ensuring people with disabilities rights alive and intact.

We drug the event all four hours of the day to it's long end. We actually tried to take the project down at three but as we proceeded a new van of folks with disabilities showed up and drug the event out to four.

Jim took the presentation down and loaded in bus in 15 minutes and and was ready to leave. We gave Jim and Tom the water which had been donated twenty or thirty bottles. And sent him on his way. The rest of the staff divided the rest of the 75 or so sandwiches and cleaned the borrowed office. Enjoying the glow of the day.